Overview: This elective is designed for students considering a career in specialties that will have clinical overlap with orthopedic and musculoskeletal care. The core of the rotation is the process of general orthopedic assessment, physical examination and correlation to anatomy, use of routine and adjunctive diagnostic studies (particularly radiographic, CT or MRI assessment of bony and soft tissue pathology and injury), development of the rationale of surgical and non-surgical care of orthopedic patients with a given diagnosis, and the economic impact of both operative and non-operative care for an orthopedic problem.

Students will have increased exposure to Orthopedic subspecialties and a large number of orthopedic faculty by being assigned to subspecialties each two weeks. Students may select specific subspecialty rotation(s) and every effort will be made to honor requests. (Faculty and setting-clinic or OR-are assigned on a day-by-day basis.) To allow students more exposure to subspecialties, students on the 4-week rotation may divide one 2-week block into 1-week rotations as faculty is available.

The student will become progressively proficient and knowledgeable in the following:

Performing physical examinations and orthopedic assessments

Interpreting routine and adjunctive diagnostic studies

Explaining methods of assessing the degree and extent of local injuries or pathologic processes with emphasis on anatomy and physiology of normal and abnormal bone and soft tissue components of the musculoskeletal system and use of both traditional and newer imaging technology

Developing differential diagnosis

Explaining the rationale of surgical and non-surgical care of patients with a given diagnosis, the impact of co-morbid conditions in managing orthopedic conditions-both operative and non-operative

Discussing the economic impact of operative and non-operative care and the costs associated in the diagnostic and treatment process, post operative care, wound care, casting, bracing and rehabilitation

Discussing the nutritional and metabolic affects of injury, healing and surgical intervention